I'm not even in Dubai yet, but I already have two business meetings scheduled within the week of my arrival. One of them is for Sunday morning, which baffled me a little initially.
"Who works on Sunday?" I thought. Then I remember: the Muslim day of rest is Friday, not Sunday. "Weekends" are usually Fridays/Saturdays, instead of the Saturdays/Sundays we are used to. But I heard some companies have Thursday/Fridays off instead. This gives new meaning to TGIF.
These are the little things that I need to adapt to over there. It's a different world, with different customs and different rules. Some of my colleagues over there right now are trying to get used to not being allowed to eat and drink as freely during the day. I heard one of them runs to the washroom when she needs to drink, so as not to offend Muslim colleagues who are fasting at work.
6 comments:
It took me, probably, a year to get used to the differences between Dubai and California. The new weekend is a tough one, as is learning the different holidays. Then there's the weird slang to get used to...but, really, it's not that hard to adapt. You'll be so jet-lagged when you get here your Sunday meeting will probably feel like a Monday, anyway.
Ella - I will need a whole new calendar, which means a whole new perspective.
And I read that in Dubai, there's no Christmas?
I haven't celebrated Christmas in 2 years! My poor kids are going to grow up thinking that Eid al-Fitr is the holiday of the year, because that's when Daddy gets a week off work.
Ella - A WEEK OFF?
That will be a week where I will still have to work, but nothing can be done because everyone in Dubai is off.
Oh god......
When visiting or staying in another country, it always surprises me how much the little differences between cultures stand out. And they will for some time, but I've no doubt that you will adapt.
Nymeth - Thanks. I believe it just takes times. Meanwhile, the more stringent fasting customs will be the problem.
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